Foxies reach semis under Japanese coach

He did.

The veteran Japanese mentor unlocked what had been missing with the franchise for so long and came through with its best game thus far in a masterful 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 win over a talent-laden Nxled side yesterday to book a breakthrough semifinal stint in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

“First time semifinals for everyone, first time and no experience,” said a relieved Tsuzurabara, who coached Petro Gazz to last year’s All-Filipino crown.

The Foxies dominated in almost every aspect, whether in attack, defense or setting anchored on Fil-Am setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, who had 16 excellent sets while sneaking in five points.

She was quick to deflect the credit to the whole squad.

“Credit to my teammates for coming out with their A-game. We came out to win and luckily, we ended up on the good side,” said Robins-Hardy, a Hawaii native who has waited one whole year for her to be able to suit up for the Strong Group Athletics-owned team.

There was nothing Brooke Van Sickle can do as she was reduced from a fearsome predator to a helpless prey after she was held to just 13 points in possibly one of her worst, if not her worst, outing in the league.

Trisha Tubu led the Foxies with 12 points while Ces Molina chipped in 10 hits.

Farm Fresh thus earned a ticket to the single-round robin semis and joined early entrants PLDT and Cignal.

Creamline and Akari were battling as of this writing for the last spot there.

But whatever happens, Tsuzurabara has done what he set out to do.

Now the sky’s the limit for the Foxies. — Joey Villar